PROPOSALS for creating a Muslim burial ground in the borough have been discussed behind closed doors.

It was revealed after a meeting of Woking Borough Council’s executive last Thursday that a memorial site for Muslims in Monument Road, Maybury, was being considered for use as a Muslim burial ground. The proposed site is owned by the Horsell Common Preservation Society (HCPS).

Borough councillor Riasat Khan had discovered that the memorial site was larger than first thought, leading to suggestions that it could be used as a burial ground — its original use, for Muslims who died in the two world wars.

The Muslim community has a problem with burials because graveyards within the borough are attached to churches and it is costly to buy a plot in Brookwood Cemetery.

Despite the matter being an important issue for residents in the area, the item was placed in part two of the agenda, which excludes members of the press and public from council chambers.

During the meeting, Cllr Philip Goldenberg asked for the issue to be moved into part one of the agenda. However, he was unsuccessful and the News and Mail was asked to leave so that the debate could begin.

After the meeting, Cllr Goldenberg said: “In the words of the Supreme Court Justice Brandeis, sunshine is the best form of disinfectant. Matters should be in public unless there is a very good reason why they should not be.”

But Cllr Khan said he felt it was correct that the issue was discussed in part two because talks with all involved parties had not yet started.

He said: “The issue was in part two because officers felt that they did not want it to be heard by the public yet as matters are still being discussed.

“We didn’t want it to come out as it has not been fully discussed with the preservation society. This issue has been going on for quite a while but it will be very positive for the community.”

Cllr Khan added: “I think it is excellent that the borough council is moving in the right direction. In 2005 I put a motion forward to the council, asking them to explore providing a burial ground for Muslims in the Woking area.

“About six months ago some research was completed and it was found that the site in Monument Road is not 0.3 hectares but four acres.

“We are thinking about making the memorial at the site a remembrance garden and then the rest could be the burial site.

“Now that the executive has agreed, we will be asking officers to look into it and start talking to members of the HCPS. I will be at the forefront of this process.

“A burial ground will fulfil the aspirations of the community.”

The former Muslim burial ground was where the bodies of 24 soldiers who died in the world wars were laid to rest before they were moved to Brookwood Cemetery — the current place for Muslim burials.

John Durrant, chairman of the HCPS, said it was still early days but council officers had told him the matter had been discussed.

He added: “We have not heard anything formal from anybody. We do at some stage want to establish a future for the former burial ground as it houses an important grade two listed building.

“We have been considering its future and how we can preserve it. We have cleaned graffiti off the building but it’s not as it was when it was first built in about 1915.

“There is an awful lot of issues to consider before we take discussions further.”

“About six months ago some research was completed and it was found that the site in Monument Road is not 0.3 hectares but four acres.

“We are thinking about making the memorial at the site a remembrance garden and then the rest could be the burial site.

“Now that the executive has agreed, we will be asking officers to look into it and start talking to members of the HCPS. I will be at the forefront of this process.

“A burial ground will fulfil the aspirations of the community.”

The former Muslim burial ground was where the bodies of 24 soldiers who died in the world wars were laid to rest before they were moved to Brookwood Cemetery — the current place for Muslim burials.

John Durrant, chairman of the HCPS, said it was still early days but council officers had told him the matter had been discussed.

He added: “We have not heard anything formal from anybody. We do at some stage want to establish a future for the former burial ground as it houses an important grade two listed building.

“We have been considering its future and how we can preserve it. We have cleaned graffiti off the building but it’s not as it was when it was first built in about 1915.

“There is an awful lot of issues to consider before we take discussions further.”